Caveat before you think it’s a sudden crime wave: This is another roundup with several days of reader reports. First one happened at a local school:

We took that photo at the Schmitz Park Elementary playground gate after a call (206-293-6302 any time) this morning. A driver apparently plowed into it very early today, doing damage including knocking down a tiled bollard. Seattle Police are investigating, Seattle Public Schools confirms; the person who called us said the driver apparently bolted.

Also early this morning, Matthew reported hearing five gunshots from his home in the 40th/Genesee area just after 3 am. Though it may be impossible to prove whether this is related, we heard late today from Ryan near 48th and Alaska, who says he found a 9-millimeter bullet casing on his front steps this morning – something he didn’t recall seeing when returning home late last night after a trip out of town. (We advised him to report it to SPD.)

Six more reader reports from the past few days are ahead:

From Ali:

Just wanted to share that our car had some thieves yesterday during the day (Monday) that took our GPS. The joke is on them since it was broken anyway. All of our CDs and papers from the glove compartment and middle console were all over the car, but it didn’t seem like anything else was missing. I believe our car was left accidentally unlocked, so I just wanted to give a friendly reminder to people to lock their cars, even at home! We are on 49th Ave SW, between Alaska and Oregon.

From Seaview, a resident who wanted to be anonymous reports what appears to be a group of 15-to-17-year-olds who don’t live in the neighborhood, 47th and Graham, have been “walking into the area … and engaging in heavy underage drinking and what appears to be drug use”:

Last Friday night the police were called out to a neighborhood house on 47th and Eddy that was supporting this behavior with no adults present in the household. Windows were broken out in said house and a few of the kids attempted to break into a truck and shed on the alley-side of 46th.

Yesterday (Monday night), the druggie kids returned and turned to setting off car alarms cars up and down 47th and prowling inside yards. They were chased by vigilant neighbors (some with bats) and the police were called out yet again to talk to the ones that were rounded up. Many were hiding under cars or ran off into the trees and could not be located. The police lectured the ones found and hinted that next time they may let the neighbors take care of them first. Hope an increased police presence and continued vigilance will get these intruder kids out of our area or they may literally get some sense knocked into them.

Car prowlers in an area of Highland Park are on notice too, per this weekend note from “Munksterball“:

I just wanted to inform you of numerous car prowlings that occured around the Highland Park area. For the last two weeks at least four cars near the intersection of elmgrove and 11th have been prowled. Our stereo was taken along with a phone charger (Friday) night. They broke the lock on our drivers side door but couldn’t take the car because of “the club”. They didn’t take the spare change from the ashtray though. Strange! Hope they don’t come back … to get it. We’ll be waiting if they do.

Another weekend report came with a photo and a request for witnesses:

Elynne wrote:

Our friend’s car was vandalized in front of our apartment at the street parking lot in front of 4744 41st Ave SW. Someone had jumped on his car, broke the front windscreen and the sunroof and left a dent. There were footprints all over the car, indicating someone had jumped on it. Made a police report (Sunday) and we are looking for any eyewitnesses to give information.

Also from the weekend, a High Point resident reported a Friday night break-in in the 2800 block of SW Raymond:

The thieves popped out the screen and entered the window while they were sleeping upstairs. They only took a few electronics and, thankfully, no one was harmed. But I’m personally really shaken but the audacity of someone entering an inhabited home in the middle of the night. A reminder to secure and doublecheck all doors and windows.

Finally, Rich reported this last Thursday and we failed to post it till now; please let police know if you’ve seen his bike:

55th and Alki: Someone stole my Mt. Bike! Specialized with White Rock shocks on the front…Tool bag under seat! Cables are ziptied on the front! They left another bike (behind).

This is by no means a complete report of everything that’s happened in the past few days – just the reader reports we’ve received (editor@westseattleblog.com).

P.S. Have you signed up your block for Night Out yet? Just three weeks away – a great chance to build community and talk crime prevention/safety with your neighbors. More info here.

8 Comments

My car was broken into in NE Seattle in June. Window smashed in. I learned from the glass repair guy that this happens to dozens of people in Seattle each week, all over the city. It is definitely an urban problem, not exclusive to WS. However, I am thankful to this blog and the readers for keeping us informed of suspicious activity so that we can all be watchful. I feel like less of a victim over here.

It seems we keep seeing bikes taken with a bike being left. I wonder if the bikes being left are ones that were stolen using the same method with a bike being left? Is there anyway to find out if the left bikes were stolen also?

My car was involved in the Monday night Seaview/47th incident. Nothing taken though since we never leave anything of value in our car. Very irritating to say the least. What time on Monday night did this happen? There was one point during the evening where my daughter woke up due to several car alarms going off. We are all on the watch…strong neighborhood!

I am curious , dose any body remember what happened to the If you owned a bike you had to get a license # or ID #, this was years ago, You would think the manufacturers could come up with a GSP that would fit inside the tubing of a mountain bike. I think I might look into that as a side bizz.

Norman, my understanding is that bike licensing isn’t cost effective. My mother’s bicycle had a license plate but that was in the 50s. Not sure how effective it would be since license tags are easy to remove. Is there an equivalent to a VIN for bicycles? I just track the make, model, and color, but there are a lot of bikes like mine…
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Btw, I saw what looked like some scattered mail along 9th Ave in Highland Park yesterday. I kept meaning to go back for a closer look, but forgot.

Savannah, the most recent incident with the hooligans on 47th was after 11p on Monday night. Neighbors were alerted by all those car alarms going off at once like you mentioned. I agree with the comment about all on watch, this will help prevent a repeat.

Yeah these kids hitting our neighborhoods can be a real PITA. I just posted some info under (7/18 – more car prowl reports). Sounds like they are getting around. Be alert, watch your property and your neighbors.